Leo Amino: The Visible and the Invisible

Leo Amino's sculptural adventures in light and color are celebrated in this first catalog on the Japanese American artist, complicating the stories of abstraction in America and Asian American art. His early works in wood and wire feature forms unfolding within forms, and he was the first American artist to use cast plastics in 1945. An extensive selection of images from his 2020 show at David Zwirner accompanies the text, along with archival images from his midcentury group shows.

Format: Hardback
Length: 220 pages
Publication date: 05 December 2023
Publisher: Radius Books

A captivating exploration of Leo Amino's sculptural journey in light and color, this comprehensive catalog delves into the intricate tapestry of abstraction in American art. Serving as the inaugural publication dedicated to the Japanese American artist, it intervenes in the narratives of both American sculpture and Asian American art. Amino's artistic prowess ignites a fresh perspective on abstraction, particularly within the works of artists of color. Similar to fellow experimentalists Josef Albers and Ad Reinhardt, Amino garnered early recognition through the cooperative Artists Gallery, where he presented his inaugural solo exhibition in 1940. However, disillusioned by the post-World War II nationalist sentiments prevalent in both Japan and America, Amino found solace among the exiles and refugees at Black Mountain College. His early sculptural works, crafted from wood and wire, showcased intricate forms that unfolded within themselves, creating a mesmerizing interplay of shapes and textures. In a groundbreaking milestone in 1945, Amino became the first American artist to employ cast plastics, skillfully crafting delicate and exquisite "refractional" sculptures that eloquently articulated light and color through intricate abstract compositions. A rich array of images, spanning from his recent 2020 exhibition at David Zwirner to archival images from his midcentury group shows at the Whitney and other esteemed museums, accompanies the text. Additionally, previously unseen archival photographs of the artist and his works from the 1940s and 50s at the Sculpture Center, where he exhibited for several decades, add depth to the narrative. Edited and written by the artist's grandson, art historian Genji Amino, with insightful contributions from Aruna D. Souza, Lucy Lippard, Neferti Tadiar, Mary Whitten, and Karen Yamashita, this volume offers a profound insight into the artistic legacy of Leo Amino.

Weight: 1946g
Dimension: 252 x 322 x 38 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781955161053